Safety razor blade sharpener



Nov. 21,- 1933.

P. H. UNSINGER 1,936,075

SAFETY RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Filed April 8, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. N J /ZZZZ ZUY. Mas in er,

Nova 21, 1933. v p H UNSINGER 1,936,075

SAFETY RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Filed April 8, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Y.

NOV. 21, 1933. p N ER 1,936,075

SAFETY RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Filed April 8, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

A YTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 21 1933 SAFETY RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Philip H. Unsinger, Maplewood, N. J.

Application April 8, 1930. Serial No. 442,705

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in machines employed in the manufacture of safety razor blades; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to automatic machinery for feeding blades subject to a manufacturing process step and then discharging the blades therefrom after desired treatment thereof.

In the manufacture of safety razor blades, and especially blades of the double edge type, it is desirable to avoid as much manual handling of the blades as possible, particularly in the feeding and discharging operations. This is desirable both from the standpoint of reducing labor costs, as well as from the standpoint of increasing the speed and capacity of machines. This invention, therefore, has for its principal object to provide an automatic machine having a conveyer means to receive and. carry the blades successively through the. machine subject to the manufacturing or processing step by which they are desired to .be treated, together with a novel feed magazine for automatically delivering the blades to the conveyer means, and a novel takeoff means for removing treated blades from the conveyer means and discharging the same from the machine.

This invention has for a further object to provide an. automatic machine for wiping and oiling the'cutting edges of razor blades preparatory to packing the same in enclosures and cartons in which the same are usually distributed.

Other objects of this-invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown. in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. l is a side elevation of a razor blade processing machine made according to the principles of this invention; Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of. the same; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of a blade feeding magazine cooperative with the conveyer means of the machine, said view being drawn on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is another longitudinalvertical section of said blade feeding magazine, taken on line 4--4 in Fig. 3; Fig. 5- is a top end view of said blade feeding magazine; Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the same, taken on line 6-6 in Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is another transverse sectional view of the same, taken on line 7-'7 in Fig. 3; and Fig. 8 is still another transverse or horizontal section, taken on line 8-8 in Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a detail enlarged transverse section of stationary conveyer supporting means or trackway devices, said section being taken on line 99 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary transverse section through one set of wiping and oiling rolls, said section being taken on line 10-10 in Fig. 2, and drawn on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 11 is a similar section through the second set of wiping and oiling rolls, taken on line 11-11 in Fig. 2, and also drawn on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the take-off mechanism whereby blades are removed from the conveyer means of the machine and discharged from the latter; and Fig. 13 is a horizontal section of the same, taken on line 13-13 in said Fig. 12. Fig. it is a fragmentary cross section taken on line 1414 in Fig. 3.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above-described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to said drawings, the reference character 15 indicates the bed-frame of the machine, the same being supported by suitable legs or standards 16. Journaled in suitable bearings 1'7 at one end of said bed-frame 15, is the carrying shaft 18 of one conveyer supporting wheel 19, and, in like manner, journaled in bearings 20 at the other end of said bed-frame 15, is thecarrying shaft 21 of the other conveyer supporting wheel 22.

The conveyer means comprises an endless belt 23, preferably made of steel. This belt is of less width than the width of the blades B to .be car ried thereby, so that the marginal edge portions of the latter may project fully at and from each side of the belt. Fixed on said belt 23, as by riveting to project from the outer surface thereof, are longitudinally spaced studs 24 to engage through perforations in the bodies of the blades B, so as to thereby cause the latter to be propelled or carried forwardly through the machine by the conveyer belt. The peripheries of the supporting wheels 19 and 22 are preferably channeled to receive the conveyer belt, thus assuring true rectilinear movement of the courses of the 100 belt through the machine, without lateral displacement or play.

Power transmission means are provided for actuating the conveyer belt and other devices of the machine. .To this end a drive shaft 25 is 105 journaled in bearing standards 26 located beneath the bed-frame l5. Said drive shaft 25 is driven by a drive pulley 27, which is fixed thereon, from any suitable source of power, as, for example, an electric motor (notshown). Secured to the bed- 110 ill frame 15, in depending relation thereto, is a bearing bracket 28 in which is mounted a driven shaft 29. Said shaft 29 is driven by a chain and sprocket drive so, or other suitable driving means, from said drive shaft 25. Fixed on said driven shaft 29, so as to be rotated ther by, is a worm 31 which meshes with and drives a worm gear 32 fixed on the carrying shaft 21, thus imparting motion to the conveyor supporting wheel 22 and thereby operating the conveyor belt 23.

The blade feed magazine is located adjacent to one end of the bed-frame i5 near the conveyor supporting wheel 22. The blade feed magazine structure comprises a platform 33 mounted on a pedestal 34 connected with the bed-frame 15. said platform 33 is provided will a channeled way 35 in its upper face, through which runs the upper, or forwardly moving, course of "he conveyer belt 23, in such marine that the upper face of the latter is flush with the top or upper face of the platform 33. Overlying said platform 33 is a feed wedge plate 35, having its tapered end extending forwardly in the direction of movement of the operative or blade carrying course of the conveyer belt 23. At its under side extending forwardly from its butt or thick end, said feed wedge plate 35 is provided with a longitudinal channel 3? adapted to provide a way or clearance for the movement of the blade engaging studs 24 which project upwardly from the upper surface of the conveyer belt. Toward the thinning or tapered end of the feed wedge plate said channel 3"? merges or cates w h a through slotted portion 33 w; .ch s aligned with and exposes the entire width or re conveyer belt to an extent slightly excess of the width of blades B to be carried by conveyer belt. Adjustably mounted on said feed wedge plate 36 is a wedge insert 39 of a width preferably exceeding the width of the conveyer belt but less than the width of blades to be mounted on the latter. This wedge insert is provided with a bifurcated forward end to furnish a slot to through which the studs 24 of the belt may project, and the arms of said bifurcated forward end are preferabiy laterally chaxnfered to red 'zce friction of sliding movement of blades B ereon. Said Wedge insert 39 longitudinally adjustable relative to the feed wedge plate 36 so as to dispose the same in proper position to so support the stack of blades carried in a magazine above the same, as to assure the lowermost blade of said stack being disposed in path novement of the conveyer studs in such manner as to be operatively engaged by a stud 2 for w awal from the stack and then finally operat engaged by conveyor studs for forward propulsion under the movement of said conveyer belt, all of which will be subsequently more fully explained.

The reference character 41 indicates the base of a magazine member. Said base is adapted to register over the feed wedge plate 36 and to be secured therewith to the platform by screws 42, through slotted apertures provided in said parts whereby dismounting of wedge plate and magazine structures, when desirable, is made possible. Said base 41 is provided with an opening, and secured to said base, in alignment with said opening, is an upstanding magazine member 43 open at its upper end. Said magazine member is provided in its front and rear sides with oppositely aligned slots 44, the ends of which respectively terminate short of the upper and lower ends of the magazine body. Said base 41 is cutaway at its under side to provide a blade ea ers exit passage within which is fixed a stop-block 45, suitably channeled at its underside, as at 46, to provide clearance for the conveyer studs 24, but so as to providea stop against which the blades, immediately above the lowermost blade of the stack contained in the magazine, may abut so as to be restrained against outward movement when said lowermost blade is withdrawn. The magazine member as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, is designed to accommodate double edged perforate blades B of the kind shown. To this end the front to rear internal dimensions of the magazine member is such as to just freely receive and permit movement of the blades when the latter are disposed longitudinally between the front and rear sides of the magazine member. In order to properly support and guide the blades for downward movement through the magazine, a pair of guide rods 4'7 is provided to extend through the perforations adjacent the ends of the blades. Means are provided to suspend the main portions of said guide rods for downward extension through the interior of the magazine while providing upwardly projecting tapered portions 47 exteriorly disposed beyond the top end of the magazine for loading purposes. To this end each rod 47 is provided in its upper end portion with a neck 48 of reduced diameter whereby an abutment shoulder 49 is provided in connection therewith. Pivotally engaged with a supporting ear 50 connected with the upper end of the magazine member, so as to swing in horizontal plane, is coupling lever 51, having indented slots 52 entering one side hereof to receive said reduced necks 48 so as to engage the body of said coupling lever beneath and in supporting and suspending relation to said guide rods. The lower free ends of the guide-rods when thus suspended, will just clear the tops of the conveyer studs 24 as the latter move beneath and past the same while the conveyer belt is in operation. In order to prevent sidewise displacement or vibration. of the suspended guide-rods 47 when the magazine'is loaded, detachable blade spacers 53 are provided. These spacers. are of a width to snugly pass through the opposed slots 44 and are bifurcated to straddle the guide rods 47. The free ends of said spacers 53 are provided with knife-like edges 54 so as to: easily pass between blades of the stack, when inserting the spacers in place. It 'willbe obvious that said spacers 53 when applied as described will retain the blades and guide rods against lateral swaying or similar movement. The spacers will travel downwardly through the slots as the stack of blades is diminished by withdrawal of blades, and said spacers maybe withdrawn and replaced at will. spacers may be employed.

In order to permit replenishing of the stack of blades within the'magazine fromtiine to time, and before the stack is completely reduced, whereby no interruption of the operation of the machine is involved in reloading the magazine, a demountable auxiliary guide-rod supporting means is provided which is adapted to adequately sup-' port and suspend the same, while the main cou-' pling lever 51 is disengaged and swung away to permit of the threading of an additional supply' of blades over the tapered portions 47 and upon the bodies of the guide rods. This auxiliary guide.

One or more said.

ceive and support the coupling plate in fixed relation to the magazine body when the same is operatively attached or related thereto. The guiderods 4'7 are provided with additional or a second set of reduced neck-portions 58 to provide abutment shoulders 59. Said neck-portions 58 are so disposed, when the guide-rods are supported by the coupling lever 51, as to be aligned with the path of movement of the coupling plate as defined by the notches 5'? in the sides of the slots 44. The bifurcated end of said coupling plate 55 provides a slot 55 to straddle the neckportions 58, when the coupling plate is inserted. In the use of'the auxiliary coupling plate 55, when the upper end of the stack of blades B descends past the notches 57, the auxiliary coupling plate may be inserted through the, slots 44 and notches 57 to straddle the neck portions 58 in supporting relation to the abutment shoulders 59, thereby serv ng to support the guide-rods in operative suspended relation to and within the magazine interior, so that the coupling lever 51 may be disengaged from the guide-rods and swung away from across the upper open end of the magazine. Blades B may, when the upper end of the magazine is thus opened, be applied to and upon the guide-rods to refill the magazine to the top, whereupon the coupling lever 51 may be returned to normal operative position and the auxiliary coupling plate 55 withdrawn to permit the added blades to join the top of the stack thereof within the magazine. It will be obvious that the above operations can be carried on while the machine continues to run and blades are being withdrawn from the lower end of the magazine, and consequently no interruption of the machine operations with consequent loss of time occurs while the supply of blades within the magazine is being replenished.

The operations'of withdrawing the lowermost blade from the magazine by the conveyer means is as follows:-

Owing to the downwardand forward slope of the-feed wedge plate 36 and its wedge insert 39, the lowermost blade is downwardly pitched longitudinally so that a'perforation near its forward end tipped to lie in the path of travel of the forward studs of an approaching pair of studs 24,

While the rearward openings of the blade lie above the path of travel of said studs. The said forward stud, as it advances to pass under the blade, will project upwardly through the slot 40 of the wedge insert 39, and as it reaches the forward perforation of the lowermost blade will abut against the forward margin thereof (as shown in-Fig. 3-). Having thus engaged the blade, continued advancing movement of said stud will exert an outward longitudinal sliding movement of said lowermost blade, the blades above being restrained against accompanying movement by the stop-block 45 and guide-rods h. p The lowermost blade will be thus carried outwardly and downwardly along the slope of the wedgeinsert, so that the rearward perforation of the blade will descend over the rearward stud, and so that finally the blade will lodge flatly on the conveyer belt so as to be advanced thereby through the machine. These operations will be successively repeated as the stack of blades gravitates in the magazine.

At the opposite end of the conveyer means is located a blade take-off or discharging means. This take-oif or discharging means comprises atake-off plate 60 which overlies the conveyer belt at the point where the same advances to and runs over the supporting wheel 19. The inner end of said take-oil plate 60 is bifurcated to provide a suitable slot formation 61 adapted to permit the conveyer belt and its studs to extend through the plate, the latter being downwardly curved or sloped at its inner end to intersect the path of movement of the blade carrying course of said conveyer belt (see Fig. 12). The effective portions of the take-off plate 60, beyond the point where the conveyer belt passes therethrough, is preferably of a width less than the width of the blades so as to leave thecutting edges of the blade free from contacts likely to injure the same (see Fig. 13), and is provided with raised longitudinal ribs 60' to reduce friction'as blades are moved thereover. Supported on a suitable bearing frame 62 are longitudinally space band wheels 63 and'64 over which runs a friction belt 65. Said friction belt is preferably made of rubber, although it may be made of other suitable material if desired. Said friction belt 65 is so disposed, as supported by the band-wheels 6364, that its lower course overlies and is aligned with the take-off plate, and the latter is preferably upwardly bowed or curved to assure firm gripping contact of said friction-belt with blades deposited on said takeoff plate. The band-wheels 63-64 are respectively provided with driving pulleys 66 and 67. Fixed on said shaft-18 is a pulley wheel 68. A drive belt 69 is arranged to run over said pulleys 6667 and 68 in such manner as to produce motion of the friction belt such as to cause its lower course, which is cooperative with the takeoff plate, to move forwardly and outwardly. Located beneath and slightly outwardly off-set beyondthe outer end of the take-off plate is a blade receiving means comprising a block '70 transversely slidable between guide-members 71 fixed on the bed-frame 15. Fixed on said block '70 to stand upwardly therefrom are pairs of re- 4 ceiving postsor rods 72 having tapered free ends '73. The members of each pair of such receiving posts or rods 72 are spaced apart at distances equivalent to the distance separating the end perforation of the blades. The outer post or rod of each pair is preferably somewhat shorter than the inner post or rod. The block is slidably reciprocable so that either pair of postsor rods '72 may be moved into blade receiving alignment with the take-off plate 60, whereby while blades are being discharged on to one pair of posts or rods, blades previously delivered upon the other pair of posts or rods may be removed. The bloc 70 may be fixed against displacement from an adjusted position by a manipulatable set screw '74.

It will be obvious that as'the conveyer belt moves through and-beneath the take-off plate 60, the blades carried by the former will ride up on the latter so as to be disengaged from the conveyer studs 24 and so as to be gripped between the take-off plate and said friction belt 65. The movement of said friction belt will cause the blades to slide outwardly along the take-off plate, and finally of. of the outer end of the same, so as to drop down upon and over the rods or posts 72 disposed to receive the same (see Fig.

While advanced by the conveyer belt from the magazine to the take-off means, the blades carried by the conveyer belt may be sub; cted to a desired processing operation. In the instant machine means are provided for wiping and oil' ing the cutting edges of the blades preparatory .the blade edges.

to packing the same for distribution. To this end there are mounted on the bed-frame 15 two sets of wiping and oiling rolls, the first set operative to engage and treat a cutting edge at one side of a blade, and the other set operative to engage and treat a cutting edge at the other or opposite side of a blade.

The first roll mechanism comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced bearing standards '75 suitably arranged for horizontal or lateral adjustment toward and away from the conveyer belt 23. Carried on each standard '75 are upper and lower bearing brackets '16 and 77 arranged for vertical adjustment. Journaled in and between the upper bearing blocks '76 is a spindle '78, provided at one end with a driving pulley '79. Suitably fixed on said spindle is an upper roll 80. In like manner, journaled in and between the lower bearing blocks '77 is a spindle 81, also provided at one end with a driving pulley 82. Suitably fixed on said spindle is a lower roll 83. The rolls 80 and 83 each preferably comprise a series of felt disks mounted side by side on the spindle and suitably fixed thereto. It has been found that Spanish white felt is admirably adapted for the purpose, since the same is readily compressible at the pinch of the rolls, and at the same time is adequately absorbent for the purpose of carrying the oil which it is desired to apply to By adjusting the bearing standards 75, the rolls may be nicely positioned to engage in the pinch thereof the blade edges as the blades are moved into contact with the rolls by the conveyer means. By adjusting the bearing brackets the degree of pinch at the point oi contact of one roll with the other may bedetermined. The rolls 80 and 83 are oppositely driven in roper direction by a belt 84, which is in turn driven from a pulley 85 fixed on the drive shaft. The courses of said belt are respectively passed over the pulleys 79 and 82, being operatively so disposed by the guidance of an idler pulley 86 (see Fig. 10). As a blade edge is passed in contact with the rolls S0 and 83, the same is engaged by j the nip of the latter, and due to the compressibility of the felt of which the rolls are composed, a strong outward wiping action is exerted by the respective rolls upon opposite sides of said blade edges. This wiping action'not only thoroughly cleanses the blade edges by'rernoving all dust or other deleterious matter leaving the edge margins bright and polished, but at the same time depositing upon said edge margins a film of oil calculated to protect the edge against corrosion.

In order to prevent displacement of the blades from the conveyer means, undue vibration of the blades, or other undesirable movement thereof while subject to th wiping and oiling action of the rolls, guide means to retain the conveyer belt and blades thereon in proper position while passing the rolls is provided. This guide means comprises a conveyer supporting plate 86 supported at its outer corners upon standards 3?, and being, preferably, bodily supported adjacent its inner .free end by an abutment post 88 upon which it rests. The lip 89 of said plate 86 underlies and supports the outer margin of the conveyer belt (see Fig. 10). Cooperative with said supporting plate 86 is guard plate 90 which is engaged by dowel pins 91 carried by the outer portion of the supporting plate so as to retain the same in assembled relation to the latter. Said supporting plate is provided with a spacer boss 92 to engage the under side of said guard plate 90, to thereby limit the movement thereof toward the supporting plate. The lip of the guard plate converges on the top of the blades carried by the conveyer belt, so as to contact with the upper surfaces of said blades inwardly of the cutting edges thereof, whereby the latter are free to pass untouched. Said lip of the guard plate is preferably formed by a lip-plate 93 secured to the underside of the free marginal portion of said guard plate. Said lip-plate 93 exceeds in length the length of the guard plate so as to provide upturned free end portions 94 projecting beyond the ends of the guard plate (see Figs. 2, 10 and 11). These up-turned end portions 94 serve to guide the blades beneath the guard plate and its lip without obstruction, and without risk of contact at any time with the sharpened cutting edges of the blades. Said guard plate is provided with tension spring means for yieldably retaining the same in blade engaging position.

The second set of wiping and oiling rolls, with cooperating guide means is located beyond the first set of rolls and guide means which has been immediately above described but so as to oppose opposite sides of the conveyer means and blades carried thereby. In detail construction and arrangement said second set of rolls and cooperating guide means is the same as the first set, as is evidenced by the application of corresponding reference characters to the parts thereof shown in the accompanying drawings.

Suitable conveyer belt and blade guide track means is provided for extension between the two sets of rolls and between the respective sets of rolls and the blade feed magazine and blade takeoff means. This guide track means is shown in transverse section in Fig. 9, and comprises a track-plate 95 having a channeled way 96 in its upper surface to receive the conveyer belt 23, so that the latter runs flush with the top surface of said track-plate. The width of the trackplate 95 is less than the width of the blades, so as to leave free contact therewith the cutting edges of the latter. Supported by bracket pieces 97 is a keeper track 98 which overlies the blades carried by the conveyer belt. Said keeper track 98 is provided in its under side with a channel 99 to provide clearance for the studs 24 of the conveyer belt 23.

It will be evident from the above description that the instant invention provides, primarily, a novel arrangement of blade conveyer means together with an efficient feed magazine adapted to automatically deliver blades upon and in propelled relation to the conveyer means. Furthermore, the invention provides a very simple and effective means for removing blades from the conveyer means and discharging the same from the machine. In addition to these features the invention provides means. for thoroughly cleaning the cutting edges of blades while at the same time applying thereto a protective film of oil.

As many changes could be made in the several features of construction above described and shown in the accompanying drawings, and many apparently widely diiferent embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a razor blade processing machine, an endless conveyer having studs to engage perforations with which the blades are provided, a tubular magazine to hold a stack of blades for gravitation toward and delivery upon said conveyer, guide means engageable through perforations of the stacked blades, a main disengageable support at the upper end of said magazine to suspend said guide means with its lower portion free and aligned with and above the path of move' ment of said conveyer studs, and an auxiliary disengageable support arranged below the upper end of said magazine to suspend said guide means when said main support is disengaged to free the upper portion of said guide means for reception of blades to be added to the supply stack thereof.

2. In a razor blade processing machine, an endless conveyer having studs to engage perforations with which the blades are provided, a tubular magazine to hold a stack of blades for gravitation toward said conveyer, guide means engageable through perforations of the stacked blades, a main disengageable support at the upper end of said magazine to suspend said guide means withits lower portion free and aligned with and above the path of movement of said conveyer studs, an auxiliary disengageable support arranged below the upper end'of said magazine to suspend when said main support is disengaged to free the upper portion of said guide means for reception of blades to be added to the supply stack thereof, a feed wedge plate at the lower end of said magazine having an opening in its tapered portion for the passage of said conveyer therethrough, and an adjustable wedge insert connected with said feed plate having a bifurcated tapered end portion for the upward projection of conveyer studs therethrough.

3. In a razor blade processing machine, an

endless conveyor having studs to engage perioe rations with which the blades are provided, a tubular magazine to hold a stack of blades for gravitation toward said conveyor, guide means engageable through perforations of the stacked blades, a main disengageable support at the upper end of said magazine to suspend said guide means with its lower portion free and aligned with and above the path of movement of said conveyer studs, an auxiliary disengageable support arranged below the upper end of said magazine to suspend said guide means when said main support is disengaged to free the upper portion of said guide means for reception of blades to be added to the supply stack thereof, a feed wedge plate at the lower end of said magazine having an opening in its tapered portion for the passage of said conveyer therethrough, an adjustable wedge insert connected with said feed plate having a bifurcated tapered end portion for the upward projection of conveyer studs therethrough, said magazine having opposed slots in its sides, and spacer plates engageable through said slots and vertically movable therein, said spacer plates being insertable bodily through the stack of blades and having bifurcated end portions to straddle said guide means to retain the same and the stack of blades thereon in alignment with said conveyer.

4. In a razor blade processing machine, an endless conveyer having studs to engage perforations with which the blades are provided, a tubular magazine to hold a stack of blades for gravitation toward anddelivery upon said conveyer, guide means engageable through perforations of the stacked blades, a main disengageable support at the upper end of said magazine to suspend said guide means with its lower portion free and aligned with and above the path of movement of said conveyer studs, and an auxiliary disengageable support arranged below the upper end of said magazine to suspend said guide means when said main support is disengaged to free the upper portion of said guide means for reception of blades to be added to the supply stack thereof, said magazine having opposed slots in its sides, and spacer plates engageable through said slots and vertically movable therein, said spacer plates being insertable bodily through the stack of blades and having bifurcated end portion to straddle said guide means to retain the same and the stack of blades thereonin alignment with said conveyer.

5. In a razor blade processing machine, an endless conveyer having studs to engage perforations with which the blades are provided, a tubular magazine to hold a stack of blades for gravitation toward said conveyer, guide rods engageable through perforations of the stacked blades and having tapered upper end portions to project beyond the upper end of said magazine and having their lower ends free and aligned with and above the path of movement of said conveyer studs, said rods having at points adjacent to he top of said magazine reduced. necks providing abutment shoulders, and a coupling lever having indented tation toward said conveyer, guide rods engageable through perforations of the stacked blades and having tapered upper end portions to project beyond the upper end of said magazine and having their lower ends free and aligned with and above the path of: movement of said conveyer studs, said rods having at points adjacent to the top of said magazine reduced necks providing abutment shoulders, a coupling lever having indented slots to detachably embrace said necks beneath said abutment shoulder to thereby suspend said rods with theirjower ends free and aligned with and above the path of movement of said conveyer studs, said guide rods having additional reduced necks providing abutment shoulders at points below the top of said magazine, and a detachable coupling plate having'a bifurcated end portion to embrace said additional necks beneath the shoulders formed thereby, the walls of said magazine having means to receive and support said coupling plate.

'7. In a razor blade processing machine, an endless conveyor having studs to engage perforations with which the blades are provided, a tubular magazine to hold, a stack of blades for gravitation toward said conveyer, guide rods engageable through perforations of the stacked blades and having tapered upper end portions to project beyond the upper end of said magazine and having their lower ends "res and aligned with and above the path of movement of said conveyer studs, said rods having at points adjacent to the top of said magazine reduced necks providing abutment shoulders, a coupling lever having indented slots to detachably embrace said necks beneath said abutment shoulder to thereby suspend said rods with their lower ends free and aligned with and above the path of movement of said conveyer studs, said guide rods having additional reduced necks providing abutment shoulders at points below the top of said magazine, a detachable coupling plate having a bifurcated end portion to embrace said additional necks beneath the shoulders formed thereby, the Walls of said magazine having means to receive and support said coupling plate, said magazine having opposed slots in its sides, and spacer plates engageable through said slots and vertically movable therein, said spacer plates being insertable bodily through the stack of blades and having bifurcated end portions to straddle said guide means to retain the same and the stack of blades thereon in alignment with said conveyer.

8. In a razor blade processing machine, an endless conveyer having studs to engage perforations with which the blades are provided, a tubular magazine to hold a stack of blades for gravitation toward said conveyer, guide rods engageable through perforations of the stacked blades and having tapered upper end portions to project beyond the upper end of said magazine and having their lower ends free and aligned with and above the path of movement of said conveyer studs, said rods having at points adjacent to the top of said magazine reduced necks providing abutment shoulders, a coupling lever having indented slots to detachably embrace said necks beneath said abutment shoulder to thereby suspend said rods with their lower ends free and aligned with and above the path of movement of said conveyer studs, said magazine having opposed slots in its sides, and spacer plates engageable through said slots and vertically movable therein, said spacer plates being insertable bodily through the stack of blades and having bifurcated end portions to straddle said guide means to retain the same and the stack of blades thereon in alignment with said conveyer.

9. In a razor blade processing machine, an endless conveyer having studs to engage perforations with which the blades are provided, means adjacent to an end of said conveyer for removing blades therefrom, comprising a take-off plate angularly intersecting the path of movement of said conveyer and having a bifurcated inner end to straddle and pass the latter, and a frictional drive belt having its lower course contiguous to and longitudinally slidable along the top of said take-01f plate, to grip blades deposited on said take-off plate for sliding said blades along said plate and discharging the same therefrom.

10. In a razor blade processing machine, an endless conveyer having studs to engage perforations with which the blades are provided, means adjacent to an end of said conveyer for removing blades therefrom, comprising a takeoff plate angularly intersecting the path of movement of said conveyer and having a bifurcated inner end to straddle and pass the latter, and a frictional drive belt having its lower course contiguous to and longitudinally slidable along the top of said take-off plate, to grip blades deposited on said take-oi plate for sliding said blades along said plate and discharging the same therefrom, and a blade stacking means having upstanding rods adjacent to the outer end of said take-oft" plate and over which perforations of the discharged blades register, whereby the latter fall onto said rods when free from the grip of said drive belt.

11. In a razor blade processing machine, an endless conveyer having studs to engage perforations with which the blades are provided, means adjacent to an end of said conveyer for removing blades therefrom, comprising a take-elf plate angularly intersecting the path of movement of said conveyer and having a bifurcated inner end to straddle and pass the latter, and a frictional drive belt having its lower course contiguous to and longitudinally slidable along the top of said 105 take-off plate, to grip blades deposited on said take-off plate for sliding said blades along said plate and discharging the same therefrom, and a blade stacking means comprising, a shiftable block below and adjacent to the outer end of 110 said take-off plate, said block having a plurality of pairs of upstanding rods selectively movable into line with said take-off plate and over which perforations of the discharged blades register,

whereby the latter fall onto said rods when free from the grip of said drive belt, said pairs of rods being selectively disposed in blade receiving position by moving said block.

12. In a razor blade processing machine as set forth in claim 9, in which the take-oil plate is provided with laterally spaced longitudinal ribs on its upper surface to reduce frictional contact of blades moved thereover by said friction drive belt.

PHILIP I-I. UNSINGER. 

